Aurora Borealis

Introduction

• Aurora Borealis: Also known as the Northern Lights, these are the result of collisions between gaseous particles in Earth's atmosphere and charged particles from solar wind.
• Protection by Earth’s Magnetic Field: Generally shields the Earth from solar wind, but disturbances allow some particles to penetrate the atmosphere, causing auroras by ionizing and exciting atmospheric particles.

Key Characteristics

• Colors: Common colors include red and green.

Sunspot Activity and Northern Lights

• Sunspot Maximum & Minimum: Relationship between sun activity and auroral displays is observed, though full understanding is under research.
• Sunspot Cycle: Predictable 11-year patterns affect geomagnetic disturbances.

Geomagnetic Disturbances

• Planetary K-Index (Kp-Index): Quantifies magnetic field disturbances, used by NOAA to describe geomagnetic storms.
  • Kp Value Descriptions:
    • Kp value of 5: Minor storm.
    • Kp value of 9: Extreme storm causing significant disruptions including power system blackouts.

Data Analysis

• Kp Index Archives: Archived data from November 1996 and November 2000 for studying sunspot minimum and maximum impacts.
• Student Engagement: Analyzing Kp data can help understand solar activity impacts.

Aurora Monitoring & Data Collection

• NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center: Provides real-time data and forecasts for geomagnetic disturbances.
• NASA Satellites: Monitor auroral activities, such as the IMAGE satellite.
• Data Collection Method: Students can measure auroral oval size using satellite images and correlate with Kp values to study storm severity.

Case Studies

• Bastille Day Storm (July 14-15, 2000): One of the most powerful storms in the last solar activity cycle. Students can investigate its impact on auroral activities.

Resources and Further Study

• Online Tools and Directories:

  • Space Weather Live (www.spaceweatherlive.com)
  • NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (www.swpc.noaa.gov)
  • Archived data: ftp://ftp.gfz-potsdam.de
  • Auroral observation tools, such as Helioviewer for solar surface study.

• Educational Material: Activities adapted from "An IMAGE Satellite Guide to Exploring the Earth’s Magnetic Field" are available for deeper learning and analysis.

Inquiry Questions

• How do sunspot activities correlate with auroral events?
• How can the data be collected and analyzed to record changes in auroral activity?
• What is the relationship between more severe storms and auroral size?

This guide provides insights into the scientific inquiry and educational exploration of auroral phenomena and their relationship with solar and geomagnetic activities.